NOVPUBThe Chief Minister stepped forward a few steps, retrieved an emerald gemstone the size of a fist from a hidden compartment, and set it atop a basket of feathers. Under the bright candle light, the giant emerald gemstone was translucent and pure, refracting a soul-stirring radiance, like a splendid illusion.
Puap’s eyes instantly widened, his pupils filled with the sparkling gemstone. The eyes of the militia were also captivated by the immense gemstone. Such a sacred gemstone was certainly rare in the world, invaluable.
"This is a gift for the Great Chief, from the distant southern Rainforest, a treasured heirloom of the Royal Family."
The Chief’s words were calm yet stern.
"Remember! You may use the other valuables, but the gemstones and the Prince, you must hand them all to the Chief!"
Puap bowed his head, not daring to look directly at the Chief’s profound and weathered gaze, and responded softly.
"Yes..."
"Puap, time is of the essence, hurry and take the Prince away!"
"Oh, Chief Minister, what about you..."
"Go!"
The Chief Minister waved his hand and turned around wearily. He gazed at the mural of the Divine Eagle and the Hummingbird, watching the Divine Eagle soar then fall, the Hummingbird circle then cry mournfully, his eyes already showing resignation to death. Beneath the mural lay an unlit torch and a row of legacy wooden planks.
Chiwaco glanced at the emotionally shaken Puap, shook his head slightly. He and his brothers exchanged looks, then slowly dispersed, approaching the sobbing guards, and then suddenly thrust their copper spears!
"Ugh! Ah! Ah!..."
The cries of death echoed in the grand hall, piercing into everyone’s hearts in an instant. The sharp copper spears swung mercilessly, aiming for vital points. In just a few breaths, five guards lay dead or dying. Blood, for the first time, flowed in the Royal Family’s grand hall!
Jinjinni spun around, his eyes wide with shock. He incredulously watched the traditionally loyal Huitu samurai.
"Puap! What are you doing?!"
"Ah... Chief Minister... I..."
Puap stuttered, his face flushed with shame, unsure of what to say. Even though he had been prepared, at this moment, his mind was still out of control.
"I... as a Mexica..."
"Pu... ap... Pu!"
Jinjinni’s voice was as cold as ice at the bottom of a lake. He let out a bitter laugh, his eyes seeming to burn with the darkest flames.
"Ha! I actually misjudged you?! The loyalty and honor of generations of the Huitu Clan, today are to be destroyed by your hands!"
"Chief Minister... I am sorry... just surrender!... I promise, the Mexica will embrace you and preserve your clan!"
Puap, ashamed, bowed his head and no longer dared to look at the Chief Minister.
Jinjinni coldly watched the samurai in front of him, like an eagle eying a turkey. Then, he looked toward Prince Shatini not far away, the young Prince, although full of fear, had stopped crying and clutched the dagger at his waist.
A trace of reassurance and expectation flickered in the Chief Minister’s eyes, which then turned into sorrow and despair. Suddenly, a severe pain shot through his waist, instantly draining all his strength!
"Ah!..."
The elderly Chief Minister bit his lip, emitting a suppressed cry of pain, his forehead instantly covered in sweat.
"Old man Chi... what... what are you doing?!"
"What am I doing?"
Chiwaco coldly smiled, then stirred his long spear again. Jinjinni could no longer stand firmly and collapsed sideways. Bright red fluid flowed swiftly from the wound in his waist, further staining his white hair.
"What am I doing?! Great Master, at this time, how could you be soft-hearted? How could the Great Chief surrender? If the Mexica accepted the Great Master and let him continue his reign, what place would there be for us? Great Master, you really are like a foolish squirrel, dropping the corn in your hands at the sight of an acorn; paralyzed with fear when confronting a cat... How could your brothers trust their lives to you like this?"
Hearing the old militia’s words and sensing the veiled threat within them, Puap turned his back, finally whispering low.
"Make it quick, let there be no pain!"
Jinjinni lay on the ground, powerlessly gazing ahead. The legacy wood planks were stained red with people’s blood. The divine curtain no longer fluttered. Looking up from the ground, the ancient murals of the flying Divine Eagle and Hummingbird were both plummeting.
"Haha, Chief Minister, the great Chief Minister! Destroying our village, destroying my home, you old white-headed bird, finally captured in my hands!"
The old militia pulled out the long spear, then thrust it again into Jinjinni’s aging chest and abdomen. Listening to the Chief Minister’s painful moans, Chiwaco laughed loudly, his laughter filled with the joy of revenge!
"Haha, this spear thrust, is for my wife! She was with me for decades, and in the end, not even a corpse was left! Come, this one is for my son. He left his parents, suffered untold hardships, and I could only pretend he was dead! Haha, Chief Minister, does your heart ache now?!"
Chiwaco laughed maniacally, his laughter echoing through the palace, even causing tears to flow. He let go of the spear stuck in the ribs, bent down in front of the Chief Minister, and then pulled out the short dagger from his waist.
"Haha, this dagger, is for my daughter! She was just so small when drafted into the logistics camp!... Draft after draft, the Mexica never conscripted one of our own!... Great Master, with a wave of your hand, we were sent thousands of miles away to die like weeds!... you wave again, and our village is gone, all that’s left when we return is a cursed old man...
